FEES - Osteopathy including an education discussion personal to you to assist you understand your problem. (Cognitive Reassurance)

The charges for the initial consultation, examination and then discussion will be £25. If appropriate, treatment will be started. Payment in full on the day - cash, cheque or Bank Transfer.

If manual treatment is needed, there are two levels of fee for each subsequent treatment:

Standard Fee - £40.00 Payment please in full on the day of treatment - cash, cheque or Bank Transfer.

Concessionary Fee - £25.00 Payment please in full on the day of treatment - cash, cheque or Bank Transfer.

Concessionary Fee available for:

Unemployed or reliant on benefits for other reasons.

Low wage.

Retired with minimal pension.

Students & teenagers.

( This arrangement is not available for those reclaiming from insurance companies. )

An alternative payment method:

Regular (interest free) payments to suit you. A monthly amount and repayment period can be arranged. This arrangement is not available for those reclaiming from insurance companies.

Children under 16 must always be accompanied by an adult at every consultation/treatment session.

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At the initial consultation:

I will discuss your storey about your problem and with your permission undertake a clinical examination and assessment.

We then discuss treatment strategies appropriate for you which reflect what treatment may be needed and over what period of time.

If we consider manual treatment is not appropriate for you or your problem, we will discuss if a further consultation elsewhere may be appropriate.

I place a strong emphasis towards:

helping you understand your problem

dis-spelling myths you may have been told previously from elsewhere

through discussion agree on practical self-help strategies appropriate for you to manage your immediate pain relief & longer term self-management to reduce the risk of further trouble.

We can then consider a practical fee for you and a practical payment schedule for you to undertake.

I cannot discuss fees prior to meeting you. An initial consultation is essential.

To make an appointment - Contact our receptionists on Tel: 01206 572761 or 769935

For your first consultation allow around one hour....

Before we start the consultation I will ask you to read two information pamphlets.

If there is time, you will receive these by email, post or on this web site.

If your appointment is within three days of first contact, please come with reading glasses and allow about fifteen minutes for you to read them on arrival before the first consultation.

Pamphlet 1. Describes the Colchester Osteopathic Centre

Pamphlet 2. Offers information on what you might expect seeing an osteopath during the first consultation and over time as treatment ensues.

I am also required to seek consent through asking you to sign forms giving:

• Permission for me to examine you.

• Permission to treat you by applying appropriate manual therapy and care.

• For back and/or neck trouble, I will ask you to complete a questionnaire to measure improvement of your complaint with treatment and care. If yes, you will need to respond to seven written questions which act as the first benchmark. Your treatment is not affected in any way if you prefer not to complete the questionnaire.

These will be given to you just before the first consultation. Again, please come with reading glasses if needed.

Any questions? Contact our receptionists on Tel: 01206 572761 or 769935 or greg@colchesterosteopathiccentre.org.uk

Confidentiality...

Patient Consent

Your patient records are securely stored at all times. They are confidential within the practice and will not be shared with other parties without your prior permission. Sometimes it is helpful to keep your GP informed of your treatment and for us to be able to contact you if we need to.

GP Letters – Private Patients

Following a series of treatment and if you agree, a letter may be sent to your GP with an outline of your condition, my clinical conclusion and the treatment recommended.

During your treatment it may be helpful for your GP to be informed about factors relating to your general health or treatment. It may also be necessary for me to get information of your medical history from your GP. In these cases, I will ask for your permission again before doing so.

If we need to contact you

The receptionist will always try to speak to you personally. If this is not possible, they will leave a message only if you give permission. We will ask you to tick the method(s) by which you prefer to be contacted and if you wish, please enter other pertinent details:

Messages to be left? Yes or No

Message at home Yes or No

Letter to your home Yes or No

Message at work Yes or No

Message on mobile Yes or No Your Number is? .............[ ]

E-mail message Yes or No. Your Address is? .............. [ @ ]

It will be your preference whether we update you from time to time with current information about back trouble.

Currently, to see me with NHS funding of your treatment is not an option. The contract which existed for many years with the North East Essex Commissioning Group has been removed from 1st April 2016. This applies to all osteopathy, chiropractic and physiotherapy provided by the private sector.

How do I know that an osteopath is properly qualified?

The law requires all practicing osteopaths to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council and regulated by the Osteopathic Act (1993).

We treat a wide variety of conditions. Back/neck pains expressed due to joint/soft tissue overload subsequent to postural changes that occur naturally from teenage and onwards. Limb pains from the back/neck, upper and lower limb joints. Problems consequent to road traffic accidents.

Do I need treatment or not - will you tell me?

Following hearing your story and a clinical assessment we will discuss your problem in detail. We will discuss whether manual treatment is appropriate for you at this time. If it is not, advice will be given who you might consult next.

Will I receive literature to take home to assist me in managing my pain and/or back problem?

I have a range of pamphlets some of which will be appropriate for you and your condition. For quite complex cases I create a personalised pamphlet based on our initial discussion.which you will receive after a few days. This assists your memory of the initial discussion and can be read by family who may have an integral role in supporting you and your recovery.

STOP PRESS! (yes, I have been around long enough to know what that means! Those under forty, ask your parents!). In February, we surveyed twenty five patients to seek whether they valued the format and content of our pamphlets. 100% answered the survey and 100% were very satisfied or satisfied.

What does treatment involve?

Osteopathic treatment consists of a range of soft tissue stretching techniques, joint manipulation and passive joint mobilization. There are no standard osteopathic treatments. Your package of care is always specific to you alone through the manual techniques applied , the time needed for appropriate treatment and your comfort throughout each treatment session.

Will I be required to undress?

Usually we ask you to remove items of clothing, often down to underwear. The items removed depend on the location of your presenting problem. Gowns will be available.

Should you prefer not to undress, or wish a chaperon to be present, please inform reception when arranging your first appointment.

Can I claim on my insurance?

Yes but each scheme differs, Please ask.

Will you write to my GP?

After your final treatment - yes, but always with your permission.

During your treatment - only if necessary to enhance your care - with your permission.